Top student Elle is named SQA exam star at ceremony

A Guildtown girl has been recognised as Scotland’s top performing student in the 2017 SQA exams.

Elle Wyatt, from the High School of Dundee, was named as the winner of the SQA’s Academic Excellence award at the qualification authority’s 2017 Star Awards ceremony which took place in Edinburgh on Friday, November 3.

Presented annually in appreciation of outstanding achievement in National Qualifications, the prestigious accolade was granted to Elle following her superb set of Advanced Higher level results.

As well as gaining A1 band passes in each subject she took – maths, physics, chemistry, and maths of mechanics – at an average of 97 per cent, Elle’s performance in physics earned her the joint top mark in Scotland, while in maths she was also joint top in the country, courtesy of a perfect score of 100 per cent.

Elle, who left the High School at the end of F6 (S6) and is now studying natural sciences at Cambridge University, said: “It’s an enormous privilege to have received this award.

“I couldn’t make it to the awards ceremony, but my parents attended and head of physics Mr Darby collected the prize on my behalf.

“I found out that I had won when my mum texted me from the event so that was quite surreal really.”

The 17-year-old, who also achieved five A1 band Highers last year, said she felt the key to her success had been working hard and doing subjects that she enjoyed. She added,“Some of my teachers have been fabulous. I think I owe a lot to them - I couldn’t have achieved as much without them.

“It’s quite nice to have my work for Advanced Highers recognised and hopefully this will have provided me with a good springboard for university!”